Mon, 29 Aug 2016 Ffermio

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-Hello and welcome to Ffermio.

-This week,

-I've crossed the Irish Sea...

-..to attend the Northern Ireland

-Texel Sheep Society show and sale.

-But I'm not feeling lonely,

-because the judge is a Welshman.

-Later, we celebrate the enterprise

-of many of our young farmers...

-..and I visit a neighbour

-who has reached a musical pinnacle.

-First, agricultural shows

-are an exceptional platform...

-..to show farm produce at its best.

-But someone has to choose

-the cream of the crop.

-Tomos Evans from Carmarthenshire

-has the honour of doing so today.

-I visited him recently

-on his own farm.

-Tomos Evans is 29 years old...

-..and farms Coedhirion,

-near Llanddarog, Carmarthenshire.

-He's the third generation

-to farm here.

-Over the decades,

-the farm has changed substantially.

-When my grandfather was here,

-it was a family dairy farm.

-A small farm.

-When my parents

-moved here in 1988...

-..the new road was built

-and split the farm in two.

-Farming on both sides of the road

-entailed a lot of extra travel.

-It's an extremely busy road.

-We took the step

-of selling the land on the far side.

-We put the money

-that we received for it...

-..towards developing

-what we have at Coedhirion now.

-A caravan park, B&B and cottages.

-As for the stock you keep,

-have Texels played a central role?

-Yes.

-My father established the flock

-back in 1989.

-Then, when I was nine years old...

-..I saw a ewe lamb

-at the Royal Welsh.

-I went to the owner

-and struck a deal, as they say.

-From that point, we've moved on

-towards a pedigree flock, really.

-Recently, Tomos became

-one of the youngest members...

-..of the NSA's Wales committee.

-He's also vice chairman

-of the South Wales Texel Club.

-Tomos clearly enjoys promoting

-the breed at shows far and wide.

-This year, he's the judge

-at Northern Ireland's national show.

-What is the appeal

-of the Texel breed for you?

-I consider them to be

-the most popular breed in the UK.

-That gives plenty of scope...

-..to market the breed

-on both sides...

-..the pedigree side

-and the commercial side.

-Tell me about your successes at

-shows and sales, prices and so on.

-Well, without any doubt,

-our best day was in 2014...

-..when we got 7,000 guineas

-for a yearling ewe at Worcester.

-That certainly surprised me...

-..and everyone else, I think.

-I went up there

-with only one ewe in the trailer...

-..and we got

-the show champion female prize...

-..and the national top sale price

-for a ewe that year.

-Tomos and his family

-also keep Coloured Ryeland sheep.

-It's one of the oldest

-British breeds.

-They're very popular

-among smallholders...

-..and with the tourists

-who visit the farm every year.

-What's the appeal

-of Coloured Ryelands?

-Well, Coloured Ryelands

-are originally from Herefordshire.

-My mother's from Hereford...

-..so it was a good way to bring

-a part of it to Carmarthenshire.

-That was Dad's logic, anyway!

-I'm sure your mother was pleased!

-I'm sure your mother was pleased!

-

-Yes...

-Then, on the tourism side...

-..it was something different

-for them to see.

-What about the tourist season?

-Do people come here

-during the lambing season?

-Does that cause complications?

-Does that cause complications?

-

-Yes, but it's nice to educate them.

-We can show what happens on a farm

-beyond what they see on television.

-We get about 4,000 visitors here...

-..between the B&B,

-the cottages and the caravan park.

-They all enjoy coming here,

-and say that they'll come again.

-Dad always says, "There's no

-nightlife here, only wildlife."

-That's the slogan we use.

-It's a good one, fair play!

-Tomos has won prizes

-with more than his sheep.

-In 2010, he was awarded the Gareth

-Raw Rees Memorial Scholarship.

-It enabled him to go to the USA...

-..to enrich his knowledge

-of black Limousin cattle.

-Well, Tomos, the cattle are outside

-and we're inside out of the rain!

-Tell me about the virtues

-of the black Limousins.

-What do you look for?

-We had problems

-finding the animal we wanted...

-..in order to establish the herd.

-We paid quite a lot...

-..for animals

-that weren't all that good...

-..because there weren't

-that many available.

-We were fortunate

-to get one here from Scotland.

-We've used

-the embryo transfer method...

-..to establish the herd

-around that particular cow.

-We have had some red Limousins too.

-We saw that as a good way

-of getting some black ones quickly.

-We bought some red ones

-and mated them with a black bull.

-We've had a very good run

-of selling black bulls and heifers.

-This year,

-we'll be showing red ones...

-..but hopefully, we'll have

-more black ones in years to come.

-Tomos, I must say, I admire you.

-You have all those varied sheep,

-the cattle, the tourist business.

-It's quite a challenge

-to keep on top of it all.

-Yes, but I enjoy the challenge.

-I hope that I'll enjoy it

-for years to come.

-It's in my blood.

-That's how I've been raised.

-Showing animals and keeping busy.

-It doesn't bother me

-to be out here until ten at night...

-..and again at six in the morning.

-It's where I want to be

-and hopefully will be.

-From Carmarthenshire

-to County Antrim.

-Tomos is now busy judging behind me.

-He's faced with quite a task,

-with over 400 sheep being exhibited.

-This is the Northern Ireland

-Texel Sheep Society show and sale.

-As with previous years, they expect

-3,000 people here over two days.

-Keeping an eagle eye on the ring

-is Catrin Reed, Tomos's girlfriend.

-She also keeps Texel sheep

-on her farm in Ceredigion.

-How do you make a show of it...

-..while moving through

-all these entries?

-We've talked about it quite a bit.

-He decided that he would look

-at the whole line up and down...

-..then handle them

-five or six at a time...

-..and pick the best from that group.

-After handling them all...

-..he'd go back up and down

-to see if he had enough.

-He wanted ten to fifteen...

-..but you can never foresee

-the quality of the sheep.

-From there, he'd see what he had

-and go on to placing them.

-It must be a big help to him

-that you keep Texels too.

-You can discuss and plan together.

-I don't know if that's true.

-There's a competition between us!

-But being able to discuss

-a shared interest is nice.

-After judging all that stock,

-how did Tomos feel it went?

-It's been a very difficult job.

-One of the toughest tasks

-I've ever faced with the breed.

-But I enjoyed every minute of it

-and it was a privilege to be asked.

-The standard is incredibly high.

-They always have produced

-good-quality Texels out here.

-This year is no exception.

-I was particularly pleased...

-..by the number of young farmers

-showing their stock.

-I think that Northern Ireland

-are well ahead of us...

-..in that they have a class

-for young farmers.

-They are the future of the breed.

-It's a great idea

-to have a specific class for them.

-What do you think of the judging?

-He's been consistent

-in the kind of sheep he wants.

-He's done his work quickly too.

-He has, very quickly.

-I can't complain!

-Congratulations

-on the group of three.

-The British Texel Society

-has 2,000 members.

-20% of them

-are here in Northern Ireland.

-The Northern Irish club...

-..have a fabulous

-youth development programme.

-They really are

-the grassroots of Texel breeding.

-After the break,

-Daloni meets a group of farmers...

-..who want more control

-over the food chain...

-..in relation

-to their own businesses.

-I'll see you in two minutes.

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-Welcome back.

-Last year, Daloni met Michael Jones,

-a young sheep farmer.

-He was worried about his future

-and the lamb industry in general.

-A year later,

-he and a group of neighbours...

-..have decided to find a solution

-to their problem.

-Michael Jones and his family

-live on Ffridd farm near Bangor.

-He keeps over 700 sheep here.

-For several months, he and seven

-young farmers from North Wales...

-..have joined forces to create

-the company Ffermydd Teuluol...

-..to sell their lamb produce.

-What will the eight of you be doing

-to promote and sell your lamb...

-..that's different

-to what's on the market?

-We started by speaking to a lot

-of processors and supermarkets.

-We realized that there was demand

-for the hindquarters...

-..and that a lot of the forequarters

-was being wasted.

-The feeling is people don't eat lamb

-the same way they used to.

-There's no time and a lot

-don't know how to cook it.

-A lot of people

-say it tastes too strong.

-We came together to try and do

-something with the forequarters...

-..to modernize lamb.

-We wanted to cook it

-in a fashionable way...

-..that took around 20 minutes.

-We felt we needed to raise the value

-of lamb for people in Wales.

-The group spent a lot of time at the

-Food Technology Centre in Llangefni.

-They used

-the animal's forequarters...

-..the hardest part to sell,

-as the basis for all their produce.

-We're quite lucky that the Food Tech

-in Llangefni is on our doorstep.

-We got ourselves organized

-through Agrisgop.

-We came together

-with 12 to 14 recipes.

-We've boiled it down

-to half a dozen now.

-What will you introduce

-to the market with the lamb?

-Lamb with a little chilli.

-Some with Mediterranean

-sundried tomatoes.

-There's one with dates and honey.

-Rosemary and apricot.

-They're quite modern.

-Spicy and sweet ingredients

-which are quite popular now.

-Where will you sell your produce?

-At the moment, we're in talks

-with two rather large supermarkets.

-We have a meeting

-with a third next week.

-There's been a good response.

-Will you be making the burgers,

-sausages and meatballs?

-Yes, at the moment,

-we're making them at the Food Tech.

-We're hoping to find someone

-to make them for us...

-..and to make the packaging

-and everything.

-Euros Owen is another farmer

-who's part of the venture.

-He and his father keep almost 2,000

-sheep and also a dairy herd...

-..at Llwydfaen farm near Conwy.

-Are the weights good, Euros?

-They're not too bad.

-What do you try to get them to?

-Around 40

-is where I'd like to get them.

-You want the lamb

-at around 20kg deadweight.

-In a way,

-as a group of young farmers...

-..you'll be trying

-to keep everyone happy.

-We'll have to keep everyone happy.

-That's the whole idea.

-We've spoken to the supermarkets

-and they said...

-.."If we had lambs with

-six shoulders, six legs even...

-"..we can sell them all day.

-"We sell six legs

-for every shoulder."

-We're trying to do something

-with the forequarter.

-The hindquarters are good for them

-and then we get the forequarter.

-What pushed you to join this group?

-Mike phoned me

-and said he'd had an idea.

-"Lamb prices aren't doing much.

-We're struggling.

-"What if we dig into out pockets

-and try to do something?"

-We're young, we got

-an enthusiastic group together.

-We went for it

-and that's how it started.

-What amazes me is that

-it hasn't been done already.

-It's amazed us as a group too.

-It's new, we're confident and

-hopefully that will make it work.

-We've got a group of eight of us.

-Five youngsters...

-..and three wise old heads

-who rein us in now and again.

-Hopefully, we'll get some support.

-Are you hoping to supply smaller

-shops too or just supermarkets?

-We're trying to sell

-to every sector we can.

-We'll sell the lamb wherever we can.

-As well as sheep and cattle, you

-might be going from place to place.

-We may have to go all around Wales.

-I'm sure Dad wouldn't be very happy!

-That's the same everywhere!

-That's the same everywhere!

-

-Absolutely.

-If it pays its way and brings

-the price of lamb back up...

-..I'm sure he won't complain.

-Is it a good feeling?

-The fact that you'll know the

-produce's route from gate to plate.

-What's better than that?

-Hopefully, in two months...

-..you'll come back and I can weigh

-a lamb to make burgers for us.

-Speaking of weighing lambs,

-some won't go if we keep talking!

-Let's get another one done.

-This is on top

-of the farming work you do.

-You have 700 sheep to care for

-and then this.

-Yes, it's been quite a challenge.

-I got up at 4.30am

-to carry the bales in...

-..to get to the Food Tech on time.

-There we go, that's how it is.

-Is all this work

-worth it financially?

-Yes, I hope so.

-That isn't a big part of it.

-The aim is

-that it will work, it has to.

-We feel strongly in Wales that we

-have the produce and the location.

-You can't take that from us.

-Traditionally,

-Wales is known as the land of song.

-It's surprising

-how many of our famous singers...

-..come from rural backgrounds.

-Last week, I went to meet one singer

-who's making a name for himself.

-He's also my neighbour!

-Huw Ynyr is a familiar face

-at Welsh festivals.

-He's been successful at the National

-Eisteddfod, Urdd Eisteddfod...

-..the Cerdd Dant Festival

-and local eisteddfods.

-Here, at Hengwrt Uchaf, Huw farms

-with his parents, Huw and Rhianwen.

-He has hopes of combining

-both loves, farming and singing.

-How important is this area to you

-that it's kept you here...

-..as someone who could make a career

-anywhere in the world?

-It's everything, really, isn't it?

-I've grown up here.

-This is where my roots are.

-I've grown up with friends

-on the neighbouring farms.

-I've also got Llyr and Rhys,

-my two older brothers.

-This is where my memories are.

-Obviously, it's nice

-to have that option to go away.

-This place will always be home.

-Was there something specific...

-..that made you realize

-you wanted to be here?

-I think there was, wasn't there?

-I pull my girlfriend Awel's leg

-about it.

-We started seeing each other

-when we were 15.

-Awel's father is a farmer too.

-At the time,

-I didn't think much of farming.

-I was scared

-he'd ask me about the farm.

-I started taking a bit more interest

-in the farm for that reason!

-As you get older,

-responsibilities grow.

-Dad's sent me on shearing courses

-among other things.

-He just tries to involve me more.

-Ever since then, I've loved it.

-That's interesting because you've

-not been to an agricultural college.

-No, that's the thing...

-..I went to a sixth-form college

-in Dolgellau after school.

-I studied music at Bangor

-for four years.

-Everything I know about farming,

-I know through Dad.

-That's how I've learned.

-I'd like to combine a performing

-and singing career with the farm.

-I'm hoping that will be possible

-in the long term.

-Tell us some of the highlights

-in your singing career thus far.

-I competed

-at the National Eisteddfod recently.

-I had some success.

-I suppose the biggest highlight...

-..was winning the

-Bryn Terfel Scholarship in 2012.

-That was an incredible experience.

-The winner of the Urdd Gobaith Cymru

-Bryn Terfel Scholarship for 2012...

-..is...

-..Huw Ynyr Evans.

-# Tonight, I wander lonely

-# I am longing #

-With over

-300 Welsh Mountain Sheep...

-..and a pedigree herd

-of Welsh Black cattle...

-..there's plenty of work here.

-Huw Ynyr is the fourth generation

-on the farm.

-Keeping an eye on it all

-is Huw Alun, his father.

-It's the same problem

-that every farm has.

-We can find plenty of work

-for our children...

-..but in the end,

-they need recognition.

-That recognition

-needs to be justified too.

-Apparently, I look at him

-as a farmer who sings...

-..as opposed to a singer who farms.

-And despite taking a lot of pride

-in all his singing success...

-..the biggest pleasure for me...

-..is seeing him conduct

-day-to-day farming duties...

-..in a better way

-than I did at his age.

-How does the future look in terms

-of making a living from the farm?

-A mountain farm.

-I think there are particular skills

-involved in mountain farming.

-The age-old problem is that we

-have to get more and more land...

-..just to stay in the same place.

-That's the biggest worry.

-It's obvious that the singing

-is important for Huw Ynyr.

-But he is a son of the mountains,

-really.

-We frequently think of that link

-between music and agriculture.

-Do you have any idea

-why they go together so well?

-There are so many singers

-from rural backgrounds.

-You sing at Sunday school

-and at primary school.

-If you're a member

-of a young farmer's club...

-..you sing with the choir.

-You're surrounded

-by singing and singers.

-It worked for me anyway.

-Do you practise out on the field?

-A good question.

-Yes, I sing when I go around.

-That's particularly true

-during lambing season.

-A couple moved up to Cae Llwyd farm.

-I hadn't met them.

-I got a chance to meet them.

-They said, "You're the one

-that's been singing on the quad!"

-They weren't complaining

-but they had heard.

-# I'll sing my song no more

-# My song is at an end #

-That's it for this week.

-Whatever our worries

-about the industry...

-..young people are eyeing the future

-with confidence.

-Personally, it's been a great visit

-to Northern Ireland...

-..and I've had a very warm welcome.

-A young Welshman has made

-quite an impact as a judge.

-Congratulations to him.

-For the time being, from me and the

-rest of the Ffermio team, goodbye.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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